A couple of days passed before I saw Matthias or anyone from home again. My days fell very much into their regular routine and there was a sort of cold comfort in that.

I woke up Thursday morning and dragged myself out of bed, ate breakfast and got ready to leave. While I was working my brush through my hair, the sound of my phone ringing made me jump in surprise. Heart pounding, I dropped my brush on the counter and rushed out to get it.

I was glad that I did, because it was Matthias's number flashing across my screen. I hit the button to answer , but found the line dead. I quickly dialled him back.

He picked up the phone on the second ring.

"Hey, Matt," I said. "I just barely missed your call. I'm just getting ready to head over to the offices with S-Serge."

"Yeah, I figured."

"I miss you," I told him.

"I was actually wondering if you were busy tonight?"

"Not after Serge is done for the day," I said. Other than my movie nights with the girls, I had no plans generally. What could I do besides follow Serge around like the pathetic thrall that I was?

"Sounds good. I'm free tonight until three in the morning. I'll see you at five?"

"Yeah, sure, that sounds good." I smiled to myself. I considering asking what he had planned, but I decided to just wait and be surprised when the time came.

The day dragged on as per my normal, except perhaps it felt slower since I had something to look forward to for once. I went through the motions of my usual routine as I always did, writing in my journal, reading, texting my family, doing all the things that I did every day to help me get through.

I tried to focus on the progress I had made over the weeks since I had been cursed, but sometimes it was hard not to look back that little bit further to when I had been free of the magic. The ease of my former life taunted me if I let it.

So I ignored it, for my own sake. I looked forward, desperately hoping that my theory was correct and at some point the relationship between Matthias and me would reach critical mass and push the magic right out of me, even as the curse continued to punish me harshly for my small flickers of hope.

I could not afford to think otherwise. I could not let myself fall back into the despair of the first days of my curse, because I was certain I would not survive it in the long run.

So, I ignored the curse's protestations and thought about my date that evening with Matthias. I speculated on what he was planning, I thought about what we might do, I let my imagination wander forward to what it would be like when we moved even further forward, to when we were married.

Would I be free then?

The knock on the door when Matthias arrived caused accursed nervousness to tangle with excitement. I had been waiting for him on the couch. I jumped up and hurried to the door since Serge was in his office like usual and I did not want him to be disturbed.

Pulling it open, I took in the sight of Matthias before me, well formed muscles visible underneath his black t-shirt as he greeted me and I returned the sentiment. It was a pleasant change not to have to actively ignore such things.

Matthias gave me a teasing, knowing look that he saw what I had been doing. I scowled at him playfully.

"You should probably wear a jacket."

"Just a sec," I said and hurried to my room. I grabbed a hoodie as well, just in case I was cold. On a whim I threw the note I wrote him and my phone in a bag and looped it over my shoulder.

I rushed back out and found Matthias waiting there for me. He took my hand in his firm grasp and the curse receded, just slightly, and he led me out of the house.

I again wondered about his plan, but I continued to be patient. He would not take me out of my safe circumference, so there was nothing for me to worry about.

Matthias walked towards the truck he had driven over, this time his parents' green pickup. He pulled out a duffle bag from in the back, and a insulated shopping bag. I eyed them curiously and glanced at his face.

He was wearing a knowing expression and he clearly wanted me to ask. I chuckled inwardly, there was no way I was making it that easy for him.

"Where to?" I asked instead.

Matthias's grin widened. He knew what I was doing and he was not going to volunteer information so easily either. I would win the game with just a bit of patience, all I had to do was wait for us to get to our destination. "Into the trees."

"Should I carry something?" I offered.

"Nah, I've got it."

I shrugged and we began walking side by side. I did not take his hand since they were full, but I felt the deficit.

We pushed into the forest and made our way back to the clearing where we had hung out before. Matthias set the bags on the ground and opened the duffle bag, pulling out a blanket. He spread it out and I simply watched him, then he threw down a couple of pillows.

"Sit down," he said. I smiled as I did as he asked. I considered offering to help, but I decided to just let him take care of me for now.

Matthias moved the insulated bag to the blanket and shoved the duffle bag off to the side. He pulled out a couple of Styrofoam containers and handed one over to me.

"Take out picnic?" I asked.

"Not quite," he said.

I cracked open the lid and peeked inside. Chicken parmesan on a bed of linguini noodles, possibly my favourite food, at least before the curse. I had tried it in a restaurant in Winnipeg and had been delighted when I found out my new step-mother knew how to make it. I might even still find it pleasant.

"Did you cook this?" I asked.

He laughed at my question. "No. I just begged Moramay to make it for me."

I chuckled, too. I guess that made sense.

Matthias handed me some cutlery and a water bottle and we ate, only talking occasionally. I kept looking at him and appreciating all that he did for me. Even without contact his concern and his effort soothed me in a way that battled the curse away from me.

By the time we were finished, the little blackflies had descended upon us and Matthias pulled out insect repellent to ward them off. It was annoying, but typical when staying still in the forest for any length of time. It was not an issue while running in our wolf forms when speed and our fur helped protect us from the little pests, but our human skins were easy pickings for the little devils.

We cleaned up when we were finished. "Thanks," I said to him, although my appreciation could barely be contained in such small words. He had done so much for me that I could not properly express. He had stayed by my side for so long. With the magic on me he could have stepped back and let me handle it alone, but he kept doing everything he could to help me cope.

It was obvious that Matthias would never leave me willingly.

"No problem, it's no big deal."

It was a big deal, though, even if he could not or would not see it. He constantly demonstrated how I could always rely on him no matter what. His presence had made me feel safe and secure for years, but it was only with this horrible affliction that I could clearly see how much.

"I love you," I said simply, catching his eyes.

I was rewarded with a truly happy smile that made me feel warm. Matthias smiled plenty, but it was so often a smile of teasing or challenge that this one was a rarity. I returned it and it was easy, my pleasure at his ease pushed through the magic of the curse and let me feel what I truly felt for one sweet second.

It was good, and right, and I felt such hope that this thing between us would break the curse at last.

"I love you too, Elise. More than I can say."

Matthias was not one for mushy stuff so his words meant a lot. I scooted closer and leaned up against his side. He wrapped his arm around me.

It was as if I were good and whole and myself, a wonderful feeling.

"Want to watch a movie?" he asked.

"Yeah? Sure," I agreed quickly.

He pulled out a tablet. "It's not perfect, but I have a few choices downloaded on here. You can pick."

As always, I did not want to pick, but since he had gone through so much trouble for me I could not refuse. I watched as he turned on the screen and showed me what he had brought. I had a few choices, action, fantasy, historical...

"Romantic comedy?" I asked him teasingly. That was not his first choice by a long shot.

He shrugged and tried to hide his mild embarrassment. I thought it was cute. "Only if you want, obviously. It's not what we usually watch, but I thought maybe you'd like something like that. Hey, I'm trying here."

I almost felt bad for kidding him. I leaned closer to his face. "I like it, I appreciate it." Then I kissed him as a demonstration of how much I truly enjoyed what he did for me.

We lay together in the forest, cuddling and watching a fantasy movie on the small screen Matthias propped up in front of us, interrupted only by the far off cries of birds and the occasional buzzing of insects. It felt special and ordinary all at once. It felt like it always felt when I was with Matthias, but at the same time something more.

The curse felt muted, still present, but unable to flex its hold over me. I could hope without it swallowing the feeling in its anxious terror with Matthias's strength pressed up against me and the affection that swelled inside me whenever my thoughts drifted to him.

Peace. But peace cannot last indefinitely.

Matthias noticed the sound before I did, probably because he had learned to be constantly alert while running patrols. He sat up and looked, and footsteps came towards us.

Before I could see the intruder, Matthias was already on his feet. His form relaxed only slightly when Serge came into sight and then he tensed again with his irritation at the interruption.

"Sorry, but there's an attack. I have to go," Serge said, his tone both abrupt and apologetic at the same time. "Can you get Elise to the shelter, Matthias?"

Maybe I would have been a bit offended at being treated like a parcel before the curse, but truly I was little better than an inanimate object when I was too far from Serge.

Matthias glowered at Serge. "She can just stay with me."

"You'd both be safer in the shelter."

Matthias looked conflicted.

"Do what you will," Serge said impatiently. Matthias narrowed his eyes even further at the brisk tone Serge had used.

Serge looked at me and his frown lessened. "I'm sorry, Elise."

He turned on his heel and rushed out of the clearing. I was sure he would transform as soon as he was out of site.

Then a beep sounded out muffled from within the duffle bag. Matthias growled at the sound and reached inside, digging around until he pulled out the pager.

Matthias swore.

"Here, you can use my phone," I offered, pulling it out of the bag. He took it and dialled my father.

I listened to him talking. I pulled out the note for him from my bag. "Yeah. Yeah. Still with Elise. Shit, I'll try."

He hung up.

"They're attacking home, too?" I asked. I barely got the words out before the magic seized me. Serge was too far away. My body shook and all I could feel was the blind terror of the separation.

"Yeah. And I'm on call for third wave." He swore again. "Shit, Elise," he said, crouching down beside me once he realized that the curse was plaguing me again.

I swallowed past my own fear.

I managed to force out my words with my uncooperative tongue. "Then Matt, you have to go." It was the last thing I wanted. I wanted to be selfish and plead for him to stay with me. Still, I wanted my people to be safe as well.

"Damn. Damn, damn."

"You have to," I pushed.

"No," he argued. "I don't want to leave you."

"It's only for a little while. This sounds serious."

I cowered on the blanket, the sound of the still playing movie blending into the background sounds of the forest. I could see the indecision on his face as he was torn between his desire to stay and protect me and his duty to go and protect his territory.

His expression hardened and I could see he had made up his mind.

"I'll get you to the shelter, Elise."

I managed a nod.

Matthias threw the tablet in the duffle bag and threw it over his shoulder. I clutched my own bag with my quivering weak hands. I was ready when he picked me up.

Leaving everything else behind, he carried me through the forest and to the green truck he had brought over. He set me inside, threw the bag in the back and jumped in the cab.

I shifted closer to Matthias and shivered violently as we left Serge's driveway and whipped down the road toward the shelter.

The shelter parking lot was as busy as ever during an attack. I could see Matthias looking around the chaos as he drove in and parked right in front of the building. He picked me up and I could see how conflicted he still felt.

In the midst of the rushing and the noise it was as if we alone were untouched by time.

"Elise, I want to stay, but I have to go."

I met his eyes. "I understand." I hated that he had to leave me and put himself in danger, but he would never be satisfied to sit out the fight when our people were in danger. I had seen how much he regretted that he had not helped when the Trifecta had lost fighters and I did not want to have to watch that regret again.

"I love you," I told him.

"I love you, too," he said as he started walking towards the stairs.

A vaguely familiar voice met my ears. "I can take her, man."

Matthias looked at the man suspiciously.

"I kind of know h-him," I whispered. Serge had left me in his care a couple of times before.

I could see Matthias's reluctance clearly on his features.

"Fine, damn it."

Matthias let him take me with another dark look. "I'll be back as soon as I can be, Elise."

"I've got my phone, call me when you're safe."

"Will do," he said. We kissed, but not long enough. I felt a loss as he walked away. My eyes followed him until the human man who carried my weight turned us back towards the building.

He smelled like a regular pack human and the curse confirmed it by allowing me to look at his nondescript features fairly easily.

I could not focus on anything but the dizzying sway of his steps as I was carried inside the building.

It took me a moment to realize that we were still on the ground floor and I struggled to comprehend what was happening. When the night air hit my face, I understood that we had gone all the way through the building and out the back door.

"Where are y-you taking me?" I stammered.

"I won't hurt you," he promised, not faltering as we strode into the forest, far from everyone else and the perception of safety.

I started to struggle and I tried to scream, but the curse had constricted my throat and movements too much for me to properly fight. I began to shift into my wolf form, but before I got far something sharp pricked my skin in the side of my neck, almost on my invisible bite mark. Ice rushed through me at the feel of the needle in my flesh.

I tried to twist out of his grasp even harder and he stopped to try to hold me still. Someone else, a man who smelled of wolf magic grabbed onto me. I tried to bite him with my useless human teeth, just before everything faded into the night.